mason



5 SheetS-PSheet 1.

.(No Model.)

G. W. MASON.

SWING.

Patented Aug. 8

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. W. MASON.

SWING.

Patented Aug. 8, 1882.

i o Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

a. W. MASON.

SWING.

Patented Aug. 8, 1882,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. G. W. MASON.

SWING.

Patented Aug. 8, 1882.

GEORGE W. MASON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SWING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,447, dated August 8, 1882.

(No model.)

I 0 all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MAsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVa'shington, in the District; of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swings, of which the following is a specifr cation.

My improvements relate in part to a swing suspended from suitable standards or framework, adapting the entire apparatus to be set on the floor or ground without other means of support, or to be suspended in reversed position from a support above.

The improvements further relate to a p0rtable swing provided with its own supportingframe, the whole being adapted to be folded up for packing or storage.

The improvements further relate to a convertible swing adapted to be used as a portable swing suspended within aframe proper to itself or to be suspended from above variably in height or length, substantially as hereinafter described.

The improvements further relate to a folding foot-rest adapted to be placed out of the way beneath the seat when not in use; and, further, to constructing the folding foot-rest so that it may be folded up in front to serve as a guard or as a table-support when required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a perspective view of the swing as adapted to stand independently on the floor or ground. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, representing it in reversed position hanging at full length from a support above. Fig.3 is a front view, showing it contracted in length and suspended in adoorway. Fig. 4 is a perspective View, illustrating a modification in the construction of the frame. Fig. 5 shows the swing with the construction of frame represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 folded into compact condition for transportation. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the seat, showing different positions of the foot rest, and in dotted lines the back let down to convert the swing into a cradle. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of adouble seat adapted for use either as a swing or as a cradle. Fig. 8 is a detail, hereinafter described.

1 1 represent front standards and 2 2 back standards, connected together in pairs near their lower ends by bars or braces 3 3,thetwo pairs of standards being inclined together at their upper ends, where they are connected by horizontal bars '4, to the centers of which the arms 5 5 of the swing are suspended by pivot or hinge bolts 6. If preferred, the front and back standards, 1 2, on each side of the swings may be brought together, the bars 4 being dispensed with.and the swing-arms 5 hinged to the crossed or connected ends ofthe standards 1, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The front and back standards, 1 2, on either side of the supporting-frame are braced together by crossed bars 7, hinged to the respective standards at 8, and having near their free ends notches 9 to engage over studs or buttons 10. By this means the frame is rendered staunch and strong. It is further kept from spreading longitudinally by a tie-cord, 11, attached to the centers of the lower connecting-bars, 3 3.

The seat 12 may be of any preferred construction. It is shown in 'Figs. 1, 2, 3 in the form of an arm-chair adapted for one person, the swing-arms 5 5 being extended down to the bottom of the seat, to which they are rigidly and securely attached as well as to the side boards or arms.

A foot-rest is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 con sisting of one or more horizontal bars, 13, attached at or near the extremities of arms- 14, which are hinged at 15 on each side of the seat, at or near the front, either on the outside of the same or on the inside, adapting the footrest to be folded completely under the seatbottom out of the way or to be folded up in front of the seat, in which latter position it is retained by books 16 engaging in eyes 17. In this position the foot-rest serves as an effective guard to prevent a young child from falling out of the seat, and it may further be formed to constitute a table for toys, or may be used for the attachment of a table. A strut, 19, hinged to the center of one of the foot rest bars 13, and received by a socket or cleat, 20, under the bottom of the seat, supports the hinged foot-rest against downward pressure when in its proper position as a foot-rest, the hinging of said strut 19 being for the purpose of permitting it to be folded in position parallel with the bars 13, when the foot-rest is to be folded up underneath the bottom of the seat or up in front of the seat to serve as a guard or as a table-support.

The apparatus above described constitutes a convenient, effective, and safe portable swing suspended from its own frame, so that it may be placed in any convenient place on the floor or on the ground without requiring any means of suspension extraneous to itself.

By unhooking the brace-bars 7 and folding the frame so that the front and rear standards, 1 2, on either side of the frame, and the bar 4, connecting the same,will be in parallel position, and inverting this frame so that it will be lower end up while the swing hangs below it, as shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus is conerted into an efiioient hanging swing with a longer sweep, or it may be converted into a hanging swing of less length and sweep by disconnecting the arms 5 5 from the longitudinal bars 4 4 and connecting them to the standards 2 2 by passing the hinge-bolts 6 through holes 2 therein, in which condition it constitutes a convenient indoor hanging swing adapted to be suspended within adoorway, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

For domestic use the swing maybe made to serve as a convenient and efficient cradle by making the back to let down, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and attaching it in any eflicient manner to the swing arms-for example, by stays or braces 28. (Also shown in dotted lines.)

The double-seated swing (shown in Fig. 7) may be converted into a cradle by the simple addition of a central extension or connecting board or setting in horizontal position leg-rests 13 13, suitably upholstered or covered with a cushion and supported by braces 19 19 and cleats 20 in either position shown.

Rivets maybe substituted for the bolts 6 where it is not desired to make the parts detachable and adjustable, especially in the more simple form of the invention shown in Fig. 4. Where bolts 6 are used, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I prefer to employ thumb-nuts 22 to permit the ready separation of the parts. Any usual and efficient device may be used to prevent the spontaneous unscrewing of the nutsas, for example, a washer, 23, formed with an internal lip, 24, as illustrated in Fig.8, engaging with a groove, 25, in the bolt. This prevents any friction against the face of the nut which might tend to unscrew it. If it be further desired to hold the bolt 6 against turning in the bar at or standard 1 or 2, as the case may be, the nut may be provided with an external lip, 26, to engage with the wooden bar or standard. The friction of the swing will thus be confined to the swing-arms themselves, and the bolt-holes in these may be bushed with metal.

Having thus described my invention, the following is whatI claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The standards 1 1 and 2 2, connected in pairs by transverse bars or braces 3 near the bottom, in combination with a suitable seat, 12, swung by pendent arms 5 from the connected tops of said paired standards, substantially as described.

2. A reversible swing adapted to rest independently on the floor or ground or to be sus pended through the medium of its supportingframe from an attachment above it, substantially as described.

3. A reversible swing constructed, substantially as herein described, to adapt it to rest independently on the floor or ground or to hang from a suspension-point above it at a variable height, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the swing-seat l2 and hinged supporting frame or standards 1 2, adapted to be folded together for transportation, in manner substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination, with a swing-seat, of a hinged or jointed foot-rest adapted to be folded up in front of the seat and attached so as to constitute a guard, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, with asvving, ofa hinged foot-restfolding beneath the seat, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with a swing-seat, of a hinged or jointed foot-rest, 13 14, and a strut or brace, 19, to sustain it in position for use, substantially as described.

G. W. MASON.

\Vitnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, \VALTER ALLEN. 

